We must be united in the war against addiction! My mission is to unite organizations,support groups, and everyone else who needs a helping hand. I am here to educate equip and develop a Recovery resource Network. My hope is that everyone gets the help they need and no one is left behind or alone in their fight for freedom from addiction. Join me and lets fight the good fight! Our Philosophy: Instigate, Agitate, Educate, and Liberate!

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

More Children Being Accidentally Poisoned by Opioids and Other Adult Medications

A growing number of children and teenagers are being
accidentally poisoned by opioids and medications for adult chronic
diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes, according to a new
study.More than 70,000 children under 18 go to the emergency room because
of accidental medication exposures and poisonings each year, according
to researchers from Boston Children’s Hospital. They report in Pediatrics
the rate of such visits rose 30 percent between 2001 and 2008.
Hospitalization rates for accidental poisonings in children rose 36
percent, USA Today reports.Serious injuries and hospitalizations occurred most frequently with
opioids and diabetes medications. “Increasing adult drug prescriptions
are strongly associated with rising pediatric exposures and poisonings,
particularly for opioids and among children 0 to 5 years old,” the
researchers wrote. “These associations have sizable impacts, including
high rates of serious injury and health care use.”The study excluded antidepressants, because they are increasingly
prescribed for young people. The researchers wanted to look at drugs
that generally are prescribed for adults. The researchers found children
under age 5 were most at risk for poisoning, followed by teens ages 13
to 19.Study co-author Florence Bourgeois said young children generally are
accidentally poisoned when they swallow drugs they find while exploring,
while teens tend to seek out drugs such as opioids and intentionally
take them.